Excitement is building ahead of the upcoming open day at Classic Flyers being held later this month with some of the organising team taking to the air in two planes over Tauranga today.

The flights took them over Tauranga giving them a bird's eye view that included the Mount Main beach, Mauao and ships in port.

"Our head chef Glenn Persing captured this shot today of pilot Pete Ham and myself in our Boeing Stearman, with the Queen Elizabeth cruise ship in the background," says Phillie Holmes.

Glenn was flying in the Classic Flyer's CT-4 Airtrainer, piloted by CEO Andrew Gormlie.

"We all went for a fly today ahead of our upcoming open day on January 28, where we will be running 10 minute scenic flights over Tauranga in the Stearman."

The open day will also be celebrating 18 years of Classic Flyers being in operation.

Fun activities for the day include face painting and fire truck rides.

Seriously fun activities include DC-3 rides and "an awesome air display" along with delicious food and drink stalls.

"On show will be a bunch of new and old aircraft with a few doing special engine start ups, so do not miss out!"

Entry to the open day which runs from 10am on Saturday January 28 at Classic Flyers, 9 Jean Batten Drive, Mount Maunganui is by gold coin.